BEIJING — China said Friday it is poised to impose retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion worth of US imports, including coffee, honey, and industrial chemicals, if Washington goes ahead with its latest trade threat.
China’s Finance Ministry accused the Trump administration of damaging the global economy after the United States proposed increasing duties on $200 billion of Chinese goods in the second round of a dispute over technology.
‘‘China is forced to take countermeasures,’’ the ministry said, adding that retaliatory duties of between 5 and 25 percent will be imposed on 5,207 products ‘‘if the US side persists in putting its tariff measures into effect.’’
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Washington imposed 25 percent duties on $34 billion of Chinese goods on July 6 in response to complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology.
Beijing had retaliated by imposing similar charges on the same amount of US products.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Friday that ‘‘instead of retaliating, China should address longstanding concerns about its unfair trading practices.’’
Chinese leaders have offered to purchase more American goods, but rejected the US request to change technology policies they see as a path to prosperity and global influence.
The smaller list of goods tagged by China indicates Beijing is running out of products to target due to its lopsided trade balance with the United States.